[Strokin In Texas]

I am looking for info on how to start hot shot hauling. I have done a little research and have somewhat of an idea, but don't want to miss anything or make unnecessary mistakes. I've rode with a hot shot car hauler for about a month last year and loved it, but unfortunately I lost his number and have no way to get into contact with him.

I do not want to get a class A, so I will have to stay under 26,000 lbs. for the next couple of years. I have been looking at hauling boats, RV's, and misc. trailers, I do not own a trailer yet, but as long as things go well I plan on purchasing one.

I know I have to be insured and be DOT certified. What I want to know is what else do I need to get inline before I start this adventure? What are the best places or websites to get loaded? What obstacles will I run into out of state vs. in state hauling? I don't use credit (Dave Ramsey fan), so how much overhead cash will I need to have before I start this?

I am 24, and have no family. I don't mind hard work, long hours, and sleeping in the back seat if necessary :woot: until I can get on my feet. Any and all info would be great! Any other tips or tricks would be great!

 

[colo_dually]

You'll be hard pressed to get started in this without credit.

There's a number of threads on this subject here, and it costs a fortune in the insurance alone. Not something that can be done part time, and be completely by the book. For example, you won't be sleeping in your back seat. The DOT frowns on that unless you have a semi with a sleeper cab.

http://www.powerstroke.org/forum/wh...etting-into-auto-tansport-what-do-i-need.html
http://www.powerstroke.org/forum/what-powerstroke-towing-hauling/176535-hot-shot-trucking.html

There's a lot of the legalities that vary state to state. I looked into this line of work extensively as an alternative to the service, and decided I just couldn't make the numbers work and earn a living. When you get paid $2 a mile for a load, then have to drive several hundred empty to pick up another one, it makes it a little rough.

 

[StarDriver]

You'll be hard pressed to get started in this without credit.

There's a number of threads on this subject here, and it costs a fortune in the insurance alone. Not something that can be done part time, and be completely by the book. For example, you won't be sleeping in your back seat. The DOT frowns on that unless you have a semi with a sleeper cab.

http://www.powerstroke.org/forum/wh...etting-into-auto-tansport-what-do-i-need.html
http://www.powerstroke.org/forum/what-powerstroke-towing-hauling/176535-hot-shot-trucking.html

There's a lot of the legalities that vary state to state. I looked into this line of work extensively as an alternative to the service, and decided I just couldn't make the numbers work and earn a living. When you get paid $2 a mile for a load, then have to drive several hundred empty to pick up another one, it makes it a little rough.

^^^^What he said, plus figure your insurance will between $5000-$10,000. As far a pulling boats, check into that insurance wise. i did it for a while and then my insurance company wouldn't cover boats anymore, too much risk.

 

[Strokin In Texas]

figure your insurance will between $5000-$10,000.

5-10k is this down, a month, a year? What else would I need to use a credit card for?

 

[colo_dually]

$5k-$10k a year for a commercial policy with the proper amount of Cargo, and Liability Insureance.

Are you planning to do this with the '96 in your sig?

 

[Strokin In Texas]

I plan on starting with it, but dont plan on using it long, I will upgrade as soon as possible!

 

[colo_dually]

You are going about this wrong then. At a minimum you'll be looking at an F350 Dually to even get something like this started in the right direction. Your '96 doesn't have the transmission, or towing capacity to pull the kind of loads you'll be looking at to turn a profit while doing this. Even the older pre-05 SD's don't have the ratings to pull more than 13K behind them, and that's hardly enough weight for a 2 car wedge loaded down.

To be honest, I would look at upgrading your truck before walking into this thing. I did a considerable amount of research into this whole thing before I reenlisted in the service, as a possible option to get out and start. Even with my '07, I would probably need to upgrade to an F450/550 to be sure I could handle the loads. The '96 just won't have the brakes if the trailer fails to stop the load. And in all reality, you can get a Class A CDL and a semi-tactor, and do this cheaper than you can with a pickup in the long run.

 

[StarDriver]

You are going about this wrong then. At a minimum you'll be looking at an F350 Dually to even get something like this started in the right direction. Your '96 doesn't have the transmission, or towing capacity to pull the kind of loads you'll be looking at to turn a profit while doing this. Even the older pre-05 SD's don't have the ratings to pull more than 13K behind them, and that's hardly enough weight for a 2 car wedge loaded down.

To be honest, I would look at upgrading your truck before walking into this thing. I did a considerable amount of research into this whole thing before I reenlisted in the service, as a possible option to get out and start. Even with my '07, I would probably need to upgrade to an F450/550 to be sure I could handle the loads. The '96 just won't have the brakes if the trailer fails to stop the load. And in all reality, you can get a Class A CDL and a semi-tactor, and do this cheaper than you can with a pickup in the long run.

^^^^^ What he said!! If you look you can find a decent single axle for $10,000 to $20,000 and it will last alot longer, and be more user friendly than a dually and have better brakes, get close on fuel milage.(What you lose for $ in fuel milage, you'll save back in no hotel bills.)

Insurance is going to be so much down and then the rest per month.

Just FYI, I could of bought 2 Peterbilts like mine for what a new dually would cost.

 

[351fifty]

Out of the 2 rigs in your Sig, is that the same trailer?

 

[e99f2506sp]

Out of the 2 rigs in your Sig, is that the same trailer?

Yeah I've always wondered and kinda thought it was funny lookin. A big pete that can haul 80k hitched up to a gooseneck that can't haul near that...:dunno:

 

[StarDriver]

Out of the 2 rigs in your Sig, is that the same trailer?

Yeah I've always wondered and kinda thought it was funny lookin. A big pete that can haul 80k hitched up to a gooseneck that can't haul near that...:dunno:

Yes, it's the same trailer, I haven't gotten a 4-6 car trailer yet, plus, I go into alot of areas that I couldn't take a tall trailer. (this truck/trailer combo is under 12 ft tall.) I've seen several trucks out working with the same setup. I'm slowly trying to build the business, I started this 3 1/2 years ago with a single car enclosed trailer and my Dodge dually.

 

[04FX46SPD]

why not look into doing some over the road driving in a big rig first? if you have nothing holding you down its a pretty good job. most of the big companies will pay you back for going to school for getting a cdl. werner, swift and cr england just to name a few. I drove for werner its a great company to drive for and they paid off my cdl school. So if you drive for a year then you basicly get your cdl for free. now you can quit and do what you origanaly planned or you could get your own truck and run as an owner operator.

 

[Toms01PSD]

Yes, it's the same trailer, I haven't gotten a 4-6 car trailer yet, plus, I go into alot of areas that I couldn't take a tall trailer. (this truck/trailer combo is under 12 ft tall.) I've seen several trucks out working with the same setup. I'm slowly trying to build the business, I started this 3 1/2 years ago with a single car enclosed trailer and my Dodge dually.

Wanna hire another driver?

 

[StarDriver]

Wanna hire another driver?

Nope, thanks for playing.

 

[Toms01PSD]

Nope, thanks for playing.

It was worth a try.

 

[mattman]

ive been OTR since 06 an love it i started at swift worked my way to top of their pay grade in 9 months then got a offer to haul cars for a lil company near home in NC i was getting 1200 a week as a 1099 then was went to work for harley for a few months went back to the car hauler an he started this salary thing so 650 a week plus bonus it was good ive been off the road for a year ish now but gonna go back to cars next year with my 88 an a 2 car flat bed ...i got a friend does really good with a similar setup ......your cost to start up are gonna run around 400 for your DOT & MC #'s your INS will cost about 1200 up front an 550 a month for the proper INS thats 100,000 coverage an depending on the site you book loads from it could be 50 a month for access there ....then its manageing your fuel hotel an living exspenses ..........just be sure you have some funds in the bank for a slush fund in case of breakdowns an blowouts ......i'd also suggest going with a 19.5" wheels they are heavier duty n last longer than the stockers my friend has them on his truck an trailer last time i talked to him an hasnt had a single tire related issue since he switched .......its a good bizz to be in but you got to be ready an do your research for it ...........now as far as HOTSHOT im not sure havent looked into that but car hauling is a blast.........hope this helps some

 

[HAM_RADIO_MAN]

You can make some cash and don’t mind dealing with animals and doing a hard job. Animal transport pay fairly well according to my friend that does it. However hauling horses and cattle is a major PITA . You will need your own trailer. I would get the best aluminum trailer you can afford . You will also need good insurance, because some of the animal he hauls are worth more than my house. The idea here is to get into hauling for a niche market that will pay a premium to have a valuable commodity transported safely. Some guys make fair money hauling for oil field companies, but this is hard to break into unless you know someone. I delivered boats with my dad when I was between jobs for 3 months and I can tell you it’s not all it’s cracked up to be. GOOD LUCK

 

[screamin7.3]

Trucking for a living sounds like a P.I.T.A!!!!

 

[Ryan Rønning]

Naw, I enjoyed it.

 

[StarDriver]

Trucking for a living sounds like a P.I.T.A!!!!

It can be, but beng your own boss is ok too. I don't want to dicourage people from trying it, but also want to tell you it isn't easy and you're not going to get rich doing it. If it was easy, everyone would be doing it.